New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP025’

ABSTRACT

A New Guinea  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having an orange flower color, strong root system and a compact plant growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens hybrida hort.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP025’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises of a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hybrida hort, and referred to by the variety name ‘SAKIMP025’. Impatiens variety ‘SAKIMP025’ originated from a hybridization in Misato, Japan between the female Impatiens line ‘NF-572A2’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens breeding line with an orange flower color and the male Impatiens line ‘NG-422’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens breeding line with a red flower color.

In October 2008, the female parent line ‘NF-572A2’ and the male parent line ‘NG-422’ were crossed and a population of F₁ plants was created. The F₁ plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan in an open field trial. The criteria for plant selection included a beautiful orange flower color, strong root system and a compact plant growth habit. At the completion of the trial, one single-plant selection was made based on the aforementioned criteria and vegetatively propagated. From May to August 2009, the selection was evaluated in an open field in Misato, Japan. The selection subsequently was named ‘SAKIMP025’ and found to have its unique characteristics reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual vegetative propagation.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Orange flower color;     -   2. Strong root system; and     -   3. A compact plant growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a four-month-old plant grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions in the spring of 2012. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKIMP025’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Data was collected on four-month-old plants grown under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the summer of 2012. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.         -   Botanical.—Impatiens interspecific cross (Impatiens hybrida             hort).         -   Common.—Impatiens.         -   Designation.—‘SAKIMP025’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens line ‘NF-572A2’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens line ‘NG-422’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.         -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0             to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The             vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.             The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a             1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 solution:9 water) root             inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the             cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays             having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based             growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from             overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient             roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and             grown in 6-inch plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located             in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing             medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10%             phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or every             other day by overhead irrigation. Plants were fertilized             every 2 to 3 days, 2 times in consecutive applications and             then given one clear water application. Pots were             top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing             14% nitrogen, 14% phosphorus and 14% potassium. The typical             average air temperature was 24° C.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks. -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit.—Compact.         -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.         -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—15.0 cm.         -   Spread.—30.0 cm.         -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as temperature             is above 5° C.         -   Temperature tolerances.—Plants observed to continue             flowering in a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C. Plants             can withstand high heat and humidity. -   Branches:     -   -   Number of branches.—3 main branches, 11 branches total.         -   Length of branches.—Approximately 2.0 cm from soil line to             first node, approximately 9.0 cm total.         -   Diameter of branches.—1.0 cm for the main branch.         -   Color of branches.—Closest to but lighter than RHS N186C             (Greyed-Purple) and RHS 143C (Green). -   Stems:     -   -   General description.—Strong; circular cross-section, smooth             and shiny.         -   Stem length.—5.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm.         -   Color.—Closest to but lighter than RHS N186C             (Greyed-Purple).         -   Pubescence.—Slight, fine.         -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).         -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS N186D (Greyed-Purple). -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled, with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite             if only two leaves at one node.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Ciliate.         -   Surface appearance (both surfaces).—Dull, waxy.         -   Surface pubescence (both surfaces).—Very slight.         -   Surface pubescence color (both surfaces).—RHS N155A (White).         -   Length.—6.0 cm.         -   Width.—3.0 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Darker than RHS 137A (Green). Lower             surface: RHS 138B (Yellow-Green).         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 145C             (Yellow-Green).         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Petiole.—Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color: RHS 145C             (Yellow-Green). Texture: Smooth, glabrous. -   Flowers:     -   -   Total number of flowers per node.—1 to 3 in bloom, about 4             to 6 flower buds per node.         -   Total number of flower per plant.—Approximately 70 in bloom.         -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Deltoid, longitudinal cross-section.         -   Color.—RHS 41A (Red) with RHS 143C (Green). -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—5.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 51B (Red).         -   Surface texture.—Smooth, glabrous. -   Corolla:     -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 4.0 cm.         -   Depth.—0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Emarginate (cleaved). Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Pubescence (both surfaces):             Glabrous. Length: 5.0 cm. Width: 1.5 cm. Color: Upper:             Closest to but darker than RHS 45A (Red). Lower: Closest to             but darker than RHS 58B (Red-Purple). Eye zone: RHS 187B             (Greyed-Purple) and RHS 187D (Greyed-Purple). -   Spur:     -   -   Shape.—Tubular; curved downward.         -   Length.—4.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS N30B (Orange-Red). -   Calyx:     -   -   Arrangement.—Composed of 2 sepals.         -   Sepals.—Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Caudate. Base: Subcordate.             Margin: Entire. Surface texture: Glabrous. Color: RHS 145C             (Yellow-Green). Length: 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—Many.         -   Stamen form.—Fused; split into 4 lobes.         -   Filament length.—0.5 cm.         -   Filament color.—RHS 50C (Red).         -   Anther length.—0.3 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 155A (White).         -   Pollen color.—RHS 155D (White).         -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.         -   Pollen description.—Powdery.         -   Ovary.—Parietal.         -   Ovary surface color.—RHS 145A (Yellow-Green).         -   Pistil number.—5.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 143A (Green).         -   Style length.—0.4 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 143A (Green).         -   Seed production.—Absent. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKIMP025’ is a new and unique variety of Impatiens owing to its orange flower color, strong root system and a compact plant growth habit. ‘SAKIMP025’ is distinguished from its parents mainly by flower color as shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘SAKIMP025’ ‘NF-572A2’ ‘NG-422’ Flower color Bright Orange Orange Red Flower size Flower size is Flower size is larger Information not smaller than than ‘SAKIMP025’ available ‘NF-572A2’ Flowering time Earlier flowering Later flowering than Information not than ‘NF-572A2’ ‘SAKIMP025’ available Branches 3 main branches, Has less branches Information not 11 branches total than ‘SAKIMP025’ available

‘SAKIMP025’ is a new and unique variety of Impatiens owing to its orange flower color, strong root system and a compact plant growth habit. ‘SAKIMP025’ is most similar to the commercial Impatiens variety ‘Misato FG2’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,663), commercially known as SunPatiens® ‘Vigorous Orange’; however there are differences as described in the table below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKIMP025’ ‘Misato FG2’ Petal color, RHS N30B (Orange-Red) RHS N30C (Orange-Red) upper surface Petal color, RHS 40C (Red) RHS 41D (Red) lower surface Spur color Closest to RHS 51A (Red) RHS 63A (Red-Purple) Plant growth habit Compact Vigorous 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant as shown and described herein. 